Gas-purged laser system and method thereof

Abstract

A gas-purged laser system and method of gas-purging a laser system are disclosed. One embodiment of the laser system comprises an excimer refractive surgical laser system having a laser beam optical path configured to allow purging of a portion of a volume enclosing the laser beam optical path with a gas, and a gas generator, operable to generate the purging gas and provide the gas to the volume portion. The portion of the volume can be the entire volume enclosing the laser beam optical path or a selected portion thereof. The gas can be nitrogen gas and the gas generator can be a self-contained nitrogen generator as will be known to those having skill in the art. Embodiments can further comprise a controller for controlling the flow of purging gas in response to received signals representative of various parameters, such as temperature, oxygen level, pressure, humidity and flow rate.

1 . A laser system, comprising:
 a laser beam optical path configured to allow purging of a portion of a volume enclosing the laser beam optical path with a gas; and   a gas generator, operable to generate the purging gas and provide the gas to the volume portion.   
     
     
         2 . The laser system of  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the volume is the volume enclosing the laser beam optical path. 
     
     
         3 . The laser system of  claim 1 , wherein the gas generator is a nitrogen gas generator and wherein the gas is nitrogen gas. 
     
     
         4 . The laser system of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller for controlling the flow of purging gas in response to received signals representative of various parameters. 
     
     
         5 . The laser system of  claim 4 , wherein the various parameters are selected from the group including temperature, oxygen level, pressure, humidity and flow rate. 
     
     
         6 . The laser system of  claim 1 , wherein the laser system is an excimer refractive surgical laser system.